There's not enough info to comment about it, certainly not enough info to judge the guy. Maybe he drops off a wheelchair-bound wife or child at work or school before he comes in to work. Could be any of a million things.

Joe

I've been using Tony Hoar's "trayak" for a couple of summers now. No real touring with it, but perhaps a total of 150kms of short (5-10 kms each way) trips with a 5,5m long sea kayak. Have been very happy.

For open top canoes you don't necessarily need a full trailer. Swedish canoe manufacturer Linder have a design where you only attach a pair of wheels under the canoe, and an "arm" of sorts in the bow (easy with a canoe, more complicated with a kayak). The arm then attaches to your seat post.

--J

[QUOTE Now a two stoke engine on anything, that's just BAD.[/QUOTE]

My deah, a Vespa ET2 (my main transportation) has a lovely two-stroke engine. It's utterly efficient and gets me there in style and a moderate bit of speed.
Back to the question: Yes, this bike owner is a hypocrite. And the speculation about his owning jet skis, a boat, a litter, etc....if I knew that to be the case, I would make a point of avoiding his shop.

It's unbelievably petty to even be concerned about this. I suppose if you discovered the guy who sold you a cord of firewood had a gas furnace in his house, he'd be a hypocrite too, eh? For pity's sake -- get a life, live your own beliefs and don't worry about other people's, and take yourself less seriously. Everything isn't political. Honest.

Maybe he lives way out in the boonies, beyond practical cycling distance. Also, as a rule, I have found most LBS personnel seem to think cycling is only a sport and are utterly clueless on commuting. I also think he should be commended for belonging to Transportation Alternatives regardless of how he gets around.

Paul

Alanbikehouston and Clancy98 have it right: This will hurt his business because he will be less helpful to his customers. I can buy a lot of stuff off the web cheaper than my LBS. I go to my LBS when I need advice before purchasing. I trust their advice because everyone there is a regular cyclists. I wouldn't trust the owner your describe. I'd just buy online.

If that guy was giving me advice as to what type of firewood to use and which brand he would recommend, as well as if he was to be responsible for any PROBLEMS I may have with my firewood, I would damn sure expect the guy to have a woodburner...

there, no politics, just wood.